Protective case

ABSTRACT

A protective case includes a main body and a fixing strap. The fixing strap includes a first elastic part, a second elastic part and a connecting part. The first elastic part and the second elastic part are respectively connected with two lateral sides of an inner surface of the main body. The first elastic part and the second elastic part have plural openings, so that the elastic forces of the first elastic part and the second elastic part are adjustable. The connecting part is connected with the first elastic part and the second elastic part. The connecting part is accommodated within a hollow portion of the main body, and coplanar with an outer surface of the main body. When the connecting part is pulled, the first elastic part and the second elastic part deform, so that an object is held between the connecting part and the main body.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a protective case, and moreparticularly to a protective case with a fixing strap.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Generally, portable electronic devices such as mobile phones or tabletcomputers are not equipped with keyboards. Consequently, the size andweight of the portable electronic device can meet the requirement ofmost users. That is, the portable electronic devices can be carried andused more easily. During the commute time or in many differentcircumstances, the users can operate the portable electronic devices.For holding and operating the portable electronic device simultaneously,the user usually holds the portable electronic device with one hand andoperates the portable electronic device with the other hand. Since theportable electronic device is held with the single hand, the portableelectronic device possibly falls down from the hand. Since the portableelectronic device is knocked or collided by the floor, the possibilityof causing damage or breakdown of the portable electronic deviceincreases. Therefore, the manufacturers make efforts in providing aportable electronic device that can be simultaneously held and operatedby the user in a convenient manner.

In accordance with a widely-used approach, a protective case of theportable electronic device is equipped with a fixing strap for holdingthe hand of the user. By means of the fixing strap, the possibility offalling down the portable electronic device will be minimized. Someconventional technologies using the fixing strap will be illustrated asfollows.

For example, Taiwanese Patent No. 1439217 discloses a portableelectronic device with a fixing strap. In Taiwanese Patent No. 1439217,two ends of the fixing strap are connected with two positions of acircular rotatory disc having a central hollow portion. The rotatorydisc is installed on a backside surface of a tablet computer. After ahand of the user is inserted into the space under the fixing strap andthe hand is held between the backside surface of the tablet computer andthe fixing strap, the tablet computer will not be detached from the handof the user. However, since the rotatory disc and the fixing strap areprotruded from a surface of the tablet computer, the tablet computer isnot aesthetically pleasing and the tablet computer is stored withdifficulty.

Furthermore, U.S. Pat. No. 8,550,317 also discloses a protective casewith a fixing strap. In U.S. Pat. No. 8,550,317, the protective case hasa circular opening. The two ends of the fixing strap are accommodatedwithin the protective case. A middle segment of the fixing strap ispenetrated through the circular opening so as to be pulled in thedirection away from the protective case. However, since the length ofthe fixing strap pulled out from the circular opening is constant, thefixing strap is too short or too long for different users. That is, thefixing strap cannot be used for various sizes of hands. Moreover, sincethe fixing strap cannot be automatically retracted back when the fixingstrap is not used, the fixing strap is not user-friendly.

Furthermore, US Patent Publication No. 20110309117 discloses aprotective case of a portable electronic device with a fixing strap. InUS Patent Publication No. 20110309117, the two ends of the fixing strapare inserted into the protective case, and a portion of the fixing strapis exposed outside the protective case. Moreover, a tail end of thefixing strap comprises plural ridges, and plural grooves are formed inan inner surface of the protective case. When the portion of the fixingstrap exposed outside the protective case is pulled, the engagementthrough the plural ridges and the corresponding grooves can achieve thepositioning purpose. Consequently, the length of the portion of thefixing strap exposed outside the protective case is adjustable. That is,the length of the portion of the fixing strap exposed outside theprotective case can be adjusted through the plural ridges and the pluralgrooves. However, since the numbers and positions of the plural ridgesand the plural grooves are fixed, the fixing strap cannot be used forvarious sizes of hands. Similarly, the fixing strap cannot beautomatically retracted back when the fixing strap is not used.

From the above discussions, the conventional fixing strap adverselyaffects the aesthetically-pleasing efficacy of the portable electronicdevice and the protective case and is not suitably used for varioussizes of hands.

Therefore, there is a need of providing an improved protective case witha fixing strap in order to overcome the above drawbacks.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention provides a protective case with afixing strap that is aesthetically pleasing and suitably used forvarious sizes of hands.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provideda protective case. The protective case includes a main body and a fixingstrap. An electronic device is installed on the main body. The fixingstrap is disposed on the main body for holding an object between thefixing strap and the main body. The fixing strap includes a firstelastic part, a second elastic part and a connecting part. The firstelastic part is connected with an inner surface of the main body, andincludes at least one first opening. An elastic force of the firstelastic part is adjustable through the at least one first opening. Thesecond elastic part is connected with the inner surface of the mainbody, and includes at least one second opening An elastic force of thesecond elastic part is adjustable through the at least one secondopening The connecting part is arranged between the first elastic partand the second elastic part and connected with the first elastic partand the second elastic part. When the connecting part is not pulled, theconnecting part is accommodated within a hollow portion of the main bodyand exposed to an outer surface of the main body, and the connectingpart is coplanar with the outer surface of the main body. When theconnecting part is pulled, the first elastic part and the second elasticpart are stretched and subjected to deformation, so that the object isheld between the connecting part and the main body.

In an embodiment, the at least one first opening and the at least onesecond opening have the same number and the same shape.

In an embodiment, the at least one first opening and the at least onesecond opening are circular or oblong.

In an embodiment, the connecting part is made of a non-elastic material,and the first elastic part and the second elastic part are made ofsilicon resin.

In an embodiment, the main body further includes a stopping plate underthe hollow portion. Moreover, two parallel rims of the stopping plateare connected with two corresponding parallel rims of the hollowportion, and two connection holes are respectively located at twoopposite sides of the stopping plate.

In an embodiment, the first elastic part and the second elastic part areintroduced into the main body through the corresponding connectionholes.

In an embodiment, the main body further includes at least one firstlocking slot, and the first elastic part includes at least one firstbulge. The at least one first locking slot is located at a first lateralside of the inner surface of the main body. The at least one first bulgeis locked into the at least one first locking slot and fixed at thefirst lateral side of the main body.

In an embodiment, the main body further includes at least one secondlocking slot, and the second elastic part includes at least one secondbulge. The at least one second locking slot is located at a secondlateral side of the inner surface of the main body. The at least onesecond bulge is locked into the at least one second locking slot andfixed at the second lateral side of the main body.

In an embodiment, the connecting part includes at least one firstconnecting groove, and the first elastic part includes at least onefirst connecting block locked into the at least one first connectinggroove.

In an embodiment, the connecting part includes at least one secondconnecting groove, and the second elastic part includes at least onesecond connecting block locked into the at least one second connectinggroove.

In an embodiment, two ends of the first elastic part and two ends of thesecond elastic part are attached on the connecting part and the innersurface of the main body via an adhesive.

In an embodiment, the protective case further includes a covering plate.The covering plate is coupled with the inner surface of the main body.

The above objects and advantages of the present invention will becomemore readily apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art afterreviewing the following detailed description and accompanying drawings,in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic exploded view illustrating a protective caseaccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view illustrating the main body of theprotective case according to the embodiment of the present invention,which is taken from an inside viewpoint;

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view illustrating the main body of theprotective case according to the embodiment of the present invention,which is taken from an outside viewpoint;

FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view illustrating the fixing strap ofthe protective case according to the embodiment of the presentinvention, which is taken along an inside viewpoint;

FIG. 5 is a schematic exploded view illustrating the fixing strap of theprotective case as shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view illustrating the fixing strap ofthe protective case according to the embodiment of the presentinvention, which is taken along an outside viewpoint;

FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view illustrating the combination ofthe main body and the fixing strap of the protective case according tothe embodiment of the present invention, which is taken along an insideviewpoint;

FIG. 8 is a schematic perspective view illustrating the combination ofthe main body and the fixing strap of the protective case according tothe embodiment of the present invention, which is taken along an outsideviewpoint; and

FIG. 9 is a schematic perspective view illustrating the protective caseaccording to the embodiment of the present invention in a usage status.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention provides a protective case. FIG. 1 is a schematicexploded view illustrating a protective case according to an embodimentof the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the protective case 1comprises a main body 10, a fixing strap 11 and a covering plate 12.After the main body 10 and the fixing strap 11 are combined together andthe covering plate 12 is coupled with an inner surface 101 of the mainbody 10, an electronic device 13 can be installed on the main body 10.Consequently, the electronic device 13 can be protected by theprotective case 1. The structures of the main body 10 and the fixingstrap 11 and the sequence of assembling the main body 10 and the fixingstrap 11 will be illustrated as follows.

First of all, the structures of the main body 10 and the fixing strap 11will be illustrated with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. FIG. 2 is aschematic perspective view illustrating the main body of the protectivecase according to the embodiment of the present invention, which istaken from an inside viewpoint. FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective viewillustrating the main body of the protective case according to theembodiment of the present invention, which is taken from an outsideviewpoint. As shown in FIG. 2, a first locking slot 103 is located at afirst lateral side 102 of the inner surface 101 of the main body 10, anda second locking slot 105 is located at a second lateral side 104 of theinner surface 101 of the main body 10. As shown in FIG. 3, the main body10 further comprises a rectangular hollow portion 106, and a stoppingplate 107 is disposed under the hollow portion 106. Moreover, twoparallel rims of the stopping plate 107 are connected with twocorresponding parallel rims of the hollow portion 106. As shown in FIGS.2 and 3, two connection holes 108 are respectively located at twoopposite sides of the stopping plate 107. The two connection holes 108run through the inner side and the outer side of the main body 10. In anembodiment, the first locking slot 103 and the second locking slot 105are integrally formed with the main body 10. In another embodiment, thefirst locking slot 103 and the second locking slot 105 are individualcomponents that can be easily replaced by the user.

Next, please refer to FIGS. 4, 5 and 6. FIG. 4 is a schematicperspective view illustrating the fixing strap of the protective caseaccording to the embodiment of the present invention, which is takenalong an inside viewpoint. FIG. 5 is a schematic exploded viewillustrating the fixing strap of the protective case as shown in FIG. 5.FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view illustrating the fixing strap ofthe protective case according to the embodiment of the presentinvention, which is taken along an outside viewpoint.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the fixing strap 11 comprises a first elasticpart 111, a second elastic part 112 and a connecting part 113. The firstelastic part 111 comprises plural openings 114. The second elastic part112 comprises plural openings 115. By means of the plural openings 114and the plural openings 115, the elastic forces of the first elasticpart 111 and the second elastic part 112 are adjustable. It is notedthat the numbers and shapes of the plural openings 114 and the pluralopenings 115 are not restricted. That is, the numbers and shapes of theplural openings 114 and the plural openings 115 may be varied accordingto the required elastic forces of the first elastic part 111 and thesecond elastic part 112. In this embodiment, the plural openings 114include three oblong openings, and the plural openings 115 also includethree oblong openings. According to the practical requirements, theshapes of the openings may be changed (e.g., circular openings).Regardless of how the shapes of the openings are changed, the number andshape of the plural openings 114 are identical to the number and shapeof the plural openings 115. Consequently, the elastic forces of thefirst elastic part 111 and the second elastic part 112 are identical.More preferably, the connecting part 113 is made of a non-elasticmaterial. Preferably but not exclusively, the first elastic part 111 andthe second elastic part 112 are made of silicon resin.

The connecting part 113 comprises two first connecting grooves 116, 1161and two second connecting grooves 117, 1171. The first connectinggrooves 116 and 1161 are located at a first end of the connecting part113. The second connecting grooves 117 and 1171 are located at a secondend of the connecting part 113. The first elastic part 111 comprises twofirst connecting blocks 118, 1181 and two first bulges 119, 1191. Thefirst connecting blocks 118 and 1181 are located at a first end of theelastic part 111. The first bulges 119 and 1191 are located at a secondend of the elastic part 111. The second elastic part 112 comprises twosecond connecting blocks 120, 1201 and two second bulges 121, 1211. Thesecond connecting blocks 120 and 1201 are located at a first end of thesecond elastic part 112. The second bulges 121 and 1211 are located at asecond end of the second elastic part 112. The first connecting blocks118 and 1181 are locked into the corresponding first connecting grooves116 and 1161. The second connecting blocks 120 and 1201 are locked intothe corresponding second connecting grooves 117 and 1171. Consequently,the first elastic part 111 and the second elastic part 112 arerespectively connected with the first end and the second end of theconnecting part 113.

In an embodiment, the first connecting grooves 116, 1161 and the secondconnecting grooves 117, 1171 are integrally formed with the connectingpart 113. In another embodiment, the first connecting grooves 116, 1161and the second connecting grooves 117, 1171 are individual componentsthat can be easily replaced by the user. In an embodiment, the firstconnecting blocks 118, 1181 and the first bulges 119, 1191 areintegrally formed with the first elastic part 111. In anotherembodiment, the first connecting blocks 118, 1181 and the first bulges119, 1191 are individual components. In an embodiment, the secondconnecting blocks 120, 1201 and the second bulges 121, 1211 areintegrally formed with the second elastic part 112. In anotherembodiment, the second connecting blocks 120, 1201 and the second bulges121, 1211 are individual components.

In the above embodiment, the fixing strap 11 comprises two firstconnecting grooves, two second connecting grooves, two first connectingblocks and two second connecting blocks. It is noted that the numbers ofthe connecting grooves and the connecting blocks are not restricted tothose shown in the drawings. For example, in another embodiment, asingle connecting groove is connected with a single connecting block orplural connecting blocks. Alternatively, in a further embodiment, eachelastic part has a single connecting block.

Hereinafter, the sequence of assembling the main body 10 and the fixingstrap 11 will be illustrated with reference to FIGS. 2, 3, 4, 7, 8 and9. FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view illustrating the combinationof the main body and the fixing strap of the protective case accordingto the embodiment of the present invention, which is taken along aninside viewpoint. FIG. 8 is a schematic perspective view illustratingthe combination of the main body and the fixing strap of the protectivecase according to the embodiment of the present invention, which istaken along an outside viewpoint. FIG. 9 is a schematic perspective viewillustrating the protective case according to the embodiment of thepresent invention in a usage status.

As mentioned above, the main body 10 further comprises the hollowportion 106. In the assembling process, the connecting part 113 isdisposed within the hollow portion 106, and the connecting part 113 iscontacted with the stopping plate 107 so as to be positioned. Moreover,after the connecting part 113 is embedded within the hollow portion 106,the connecting part 113 is substantially coplanar with an outer surface109 of the main body 10 (see FIG. 8).

The first elastic part 111 and the second elastic part 112 areintroduced into the main body 10 through the two connection holes 108 atthe two opposite sides of the stopping plate 107. Moreover, the firstbulges 119 and 1191 of the first elastic part 111 are respectivelylocked into the first locking slots 103 and 1031 at the first lateralside 102 of the inner surface 101 of the main body 10. The second bulges121 and 1211 of the second elastic part 112 are respectively locked intothe second locking slots 105 and 1051 at the second lateral side 104 ofthe inner surface 101 of the main body 10. Consequently, the firstelastic part 111 and the second elastic part 112 are fixed and connectedto the first lateral side 102 and the second lateral side 104 of theinner surface 101 of the main body 10, respectively.

In the above embodiment, the main body 10 comprises two first lockingslots and two second locking slots, and the fixing strap 11 comprisestwo first bulges and two second bulges. It is noted that the numbers ofthe locking slots and the bulges are not restricted to those shown inthe drawings. For example, in another embodiment, a single bulge orplural bulges are locked into the corresponding locking slot.Alternatively, in a further embodiment, each elastic part has a singlebulge.

After the above steps are performed, the assembling process iscompleted. In case that the user's hand H is inserted into the spaceunder the connecting part 113 and the connecting part 113 is pulled inthe direction away from the main body 10, the first elastic part 111 andthe second elastic part 112 are stretched by the connecting part 113 andsubjected to deformation. Consequently, the user's hand H can be heldbetween the connecting part 113 and the main body 10. Moreover, inresponse to the elastic forces of the first elastic part 111 and thesecond elastic part 112, the lengths of the first elastic part 111 andthe second elastic part 112 can be automatically adjusted. Consequently,the first elastic part 111 and the second elastic part 112 can bestretched to the appropriate lengths according to the size of the user'shand H. Under this circumstance, the connecting part 113 issatisfactorily attached on the user's hand H. In other words, the fixingstrap 11 is suitably used for various sizes of hands.

In case that the user's hand H is withdrawn from the space under theconnecting part 113 and the connecting part 113 is no longer pulled, thefirst elastic part 111 and the second elastic part 112 are restored totheir original shapes in response to the elastic forces thereof. As thefirst elastic part 111 and the second elastic part 112 are restored totheir original shapes, the connecting part 113 is correspondinglyembedded within the hollow portion 106 again.

It is noted that numerous modifications and alterations may be madewhile retaining the teachings of the invention. For example, in anotherembodiment, the two ends of the first elastic part 111 and the two endsof the second elastic part 112 are attached on the two ends of theconnecting part 113 and the two lateral sides of the inner surface 101of the main body 10 via solid or liquid adhesives. In case that thesolid or liquid adhesives are employed, it is not necessary to form thefirst connecting blocks 118, 1181 and the first bulges 119, 1191 at thetwo ends of the first elastic part 111, and it is not necessary to formthe second connecting blocks 120, 1201 and the second bulges 121, 1211at the two ends of the second elastic part 112. Similarly, under thiscircumstance, it is not necessary to form the first connecting grooves116, 1161 and the second connecting grooves 117, 1171 at the two ends ofthe connecting part 113, and it is not necessary to form the firstlocking slots 103, 1031 and the second locking slots 105 and 1051 at thetwo lateral sides of the inner surface 101 of the main body 10.

As mentioned above, the connecting part 113 is connected with the firstelastic part 111 and the second elastic part 112, and the user's hand His held between the connecting part 113 and the main body 10. Since thelengths of the first elastic part 111 and the second elastic part 112can be automatically adjusted in response to the elastic forces of thefirst elastic part 111 and the second elastic part 112, the connectingpart 113 can be satisfactorily attached on the user's hand and suitablyused for various sizes of hands.

Moreover, the main body 10 further comprises the hollow portion 106, andthe stopping plate 107 is disposed under the hollow portion 106.Consequently, in case that the connecting part 113 is not pulled, theconnecting part 113 is embedded within the hollow portion 106 and notprotruded over the outer surface 109 of the main body 10. Moreover, theconnecting part 113 and the main body 10 are made of the same materialor coated with the same paint. Consequently, the connecting part 113 andthe main body 10 have the consistent properties, and theaesthetically-pleasing efficacy of the main body 10 is enhanced.

As mentioned above, the first elastic part 111 comprises the pluralopenings 114, and the second elastic part 112 comprises the pluralopenings 115. By means of the plural openings 114 and the pluralopenings 115, the elastic forces of the first elastic part 111 and thesecond elastic part 112 are adjustable. Consequently, during the processof assembling the protective case 1, it is not necessary to change thematerials or sizes of the first elastic part 111 and the second elasticpart 112 for adjusting the elastic forces, and it is not necessary tochange the main body 10 in response to the changes of the sizes of thefirst elastic part 111 and the second elastic part 112. Under thiscircumstance, the complexity and cost of fabricating the protective case1 are reduced.

From the above descriptions, the present invention provides a protectivecase with a fixing strap. The protective case with the fixing strap isaesthetically pleasing and suitably used for various sizes of hands.Moreover, the protective case has reduced fabricating complexity andreduced fabricating cost. Consequently, the problems of the conventionaltechnologies can be effectively overcome.

While the invention has been described in terms of what is presentlyconsidered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is tobe understood that the invention needs not be limited to the disclosedembodiments. On the contrary, it is intended to cover variousmodifications and similar arrangements included within the spirit andscope of the appended claims which are to be accorded with the broadestinterpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similarstructures.

What is claimed is:
 1. A protective case, comprising: a main body,wherein an electronic device is installed on the main body; a fixingstrap disposed on the main body for holding an object between the fixingstrap and the main body, wherein the fixing strap comprises: a firstelastic part connected with an inner surface of the main body, andcomprising at least one first opening, wherein an elastic force of thefirst elastic part is adjustable through the at least one first opening;a second elastic part connected with the inner surface of the main body,and comprising at least one second opening, wherein an elastic force ofthe second elastic part is adjustable through the at least one secondopening; and a connecting part arranged between the first elastic partand the second elastic part and connected with the first elastic partand the second elastic part, wherein when the connecting part is notpulled, the connecting part is accommodated within a hollow portion ofthe main body and exposed to an outer surface of the main body, and theconnecting part is coplanar with the outer surface of the main body,wherein when the connecting part is pulled, the first elastic part andthe second elastic part are stretched and subjected to deformation, sothat the object is held between the connecting part and the main body.2. The protective case according to claim 1, wherein the at least onefirst opening and the at least one second opening have the same numberand the same shape.
 3. The protective case according to claim 1, whereinthe at least one first opening and the at least one second opening arecircular or oblong.
 4. The protective case according to claim 1, whereinthe connecting part is made of a non-elastic material, and the firstelastic part and the second elastic part are made of silicon resin. 5.The protective case according to claim 1, wherein the main body furthercomprises a stopping plate under the hollow portion, wherein twoparallel rims of the stopping plate are connected with two correspondingparallel rims of the hollow portion, and two connection holes arerespectively located at two opposite sides of the stopping plate.
 6. Theprotective case according to claim 5, wherein the first elastic part andthe second elastic part are introduced into the main body through thecorresponding connection holes.
 7. The protective case according toclaim 1, wherein the main body further comprises at least one firstlocking slot, and the first elastic part comprises at least one firstbulge, wherein the at least one first locking slot is located at a firstlateral side of the inner surface of the main body, and the at least onefirst bulge is locked into the at least one first locking slot and fixedat the first lateral side of the main body.
 8. The protective caseaccording to claim 1, wherein the main body further comprises at leastone second locking slot, and the second elastic part comprises at leastone second bulge, wherein the at least one second locking slot islocated at a second lateral side of the inner surface of the main body,and the at least one second bulge is locked into the at least one secondlocking slot and fixed at the second lateral side of the main body. 9.The protective case according to claim 1, wherein the connecting partcomprises at least one first connecting groove, and the first elasticpart comprises at least one first connecting block locked into the atleast one first connecting groove.
 10. The protective case according toclaim 1, wherein the connecting part comprises at least one secondconnecting groove, and the second elastic part comprises at least onesecond connecting block locked into the at least one second connectinggroove.
 11. The protective case according to claim 1, wherein two endsof the first elastic part and two ends of the second elastic part areattached on the connecting part and the inner surface of the main bodyvia an adhesive.
 12. The protective case according to claim 1, furthercomprising a covering plate, wherein the covering plate is coupled withthe inner surface of the main body.